Photo: Stanley Lumax

Back in the summer of 2004, current SKY Syndicate Tour member Joseph Vecsey and I found ourselves on the same squad during the AND1 MIXTAPE TOUR open run outside Madison Square Garden. I felt good about how I performed and got love from the crowd, including from a couple of younger cats telling me, “Why do you have to try out to get in the building?” I didn’t get selected, and that was perfectly fine cuz it was a mad fun experience regardless.

The one down moment was captured in the photo above! Courtney Castro, currently with the Harlem Wizards, caught a steal, and I just happened to be the only one back on the break. Thankfully, I wasn’t foolish enough to jump with him, but I did kind of feel helpless in trying to defend when I saw him take off just inside the dotted.

It happens!

Just the other day, I was retelling to Ahmad Hooper of the WEST sneaker shop and our own Ballgurl of the only time I truly got woofed on. It was circa ‘84 at the Highbridge 3 on 3 in the Bronx near Woodycrest Avenue. Hooper didn’t warn me about John Morton’s hops. Dude came down the baseline and like a petty mortal I leaped in front–BONG! Pause, but I caught it in my mouth. For real. As in he was so high, his crotch basically hit my grillpiece. It was a bad moment, man! My only solace was that at the end of the summer, I was named to the All-Tournament, my first ever such playground accolade. More people from the BX remember the boof than my trophy, I’m sure. Oh well! Morton went on to dropping 30+ with Seton Hall in the NCAA Final and then playing a couple of seasons in the NBA with the Cavs, etc. So I guess if you gonna get banged on by anybody, least let it be someone whose game is official! Imagine going to the gym tomorrow and the worst scrub calls last next . . . and then hongs it on you? WHAAAT? Ha ha ha ha ha . . . Don’t sleep.

Or simply, don’t jump

It happens.